Where do we go from here?
It may seem like a tough question right now, as things continue to change, and we learn more with each passing day.
But the answer is actually simple. When the time is right, we go back to Tanzania. Back to Africa. Back to the airports and train stations. Back to the blank passport pages that need to be filled. Back to the world we love to travel.
It’s not going to be immediate; we know. We’ve been talking to the team in Tanzania and paying close attention to CDC and State Department recommendations. Just as they always have been, your safety and comfort are our main concern.
But more than ever before, travel holds a higher power. And it’s our responsibility to take advantage of and channel it effectively.
Through travel, we build tolerance and embrace differences. We change our perspective and shatter learned behaviors. We empower others and break down stereotypes. We protect environments and emphasize conservation. We connect with other humans and nourish families. We improve local economies and promote equality. Through travel, we grow as individuals, and impact the world around us.
This is true all over the world, but rings especially true in Tanzania, where so much depends on travel and tourism. Beyond accounting for more than 11% of Tanzanian jobs, tourism helps fund educational opportunities, healthcare improvements, and wildlife conservation efforts. Tanzania – its people, its animals, its lands – needs tourism. We owe it to the guides and porters, to the remote towns and villages and to the lions and the leopards, to return to Tanzania.
Maybe a traditional Maasai folktale changes your perspective. Maybe a lively discussion with your guide helps you to embrace differences. Maybe watching elephants in the wild inspires you to donate to conservation efforts. The when, where, and how don’t matter. What matters is that you chose to use travel’s higher power to expand your world and improve the world for others.
There will be some new protocols in place when we go back to Tanzania, but what won’t change is how much we love, cherish, and respect this country, and how much we know you will too. We can’t wait to travel again and to welcome you back to our home.
From our family to yours,
Ina Steinhilber
President of Wineland-Thomson
